richard



be easily guided around and Nrrnn STATES SHOE- E PLACE.

Knit-js.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 42,537, dated April 26, 1864.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, SRICHARD, of Southbridge, in the count-y of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented an Improved Shoedinife; and l do hereby decla-re that the following, taken in connection with the drawings which accompany and form part of this specification, is a description of my invention sufficient to enable those skilled in the art to practice it.

This invention relates to the construction of that peculiar form of knife known to shoemanufacturers as the clicker knife,77 used principally in cutting,` out stock for shoe 'Vamps or uppers by the aid of patterns laid upon the stock. .For this purpose the knifeblade is made with its cutting-point considerably beyond the end of the handle ar vow the plane thereof. the cutting-edge and front' end ofthe blade meeting at an acute angle, so as to narrow the point and allow the blade to against the pattern.

My invention consists in a new construction or form `given to the knife-blade whereby certain importa-nt advantages are obtained, as will be hereinafter described; also, in the manner of applying the knife to the handle.

ln the. accompanying drawings, Figure l shows a side View, and Fig. 2 a central longitudinal section, of my improved knife. Fig. 3 is a View ol" the common forni of clicker knife now in use.

In Figs. land 2, a denotes the blade of my knife, I the handle, and c thc shank running through the handle and confining` the blade l thereto. ln Fig. 3 the blade is shown as inadc triangular and in the direction of its cutting-edge` .lt is very long, while a greatl width is necessary at or near the bearingpoint d to impart the necessary stiffness t0 the blade, such width decreasingto the handle to give the desirable inclination to the cuttingedge. 'r Iir sharpening;` this-knife as its cutting point and edge become dull the blade assumes the form denoted by the red lines. Instead of making the knife in this shape I give toit f.

the trapezoidal form shown in Fig. l., the two sides ej' and g lL being made parallel or about parallel, and the side of and cutting-edge fg y retaining the saine, or sul'Jsi'gantially the same, angle to each otherand with respect to handle a asin the old form of knife. By this con- -struction I am enabled to bring the cutting edge or point very much nearer tothe handle, where the force is applied, and I can also sharpen the knife to much better advantage, as the blade can be ground parallel to its edge, keeping the angle the same and the eut-tingedge of the same length.

In order to facilitate the operation of sharpening the knife, and to allow its cuttingr edge or point to beadjusted to a greater or less distance from the axial line of the handle, or kept at the same distance therefrom as the knit'e becomes worn, and to better sustain and keep in position the blade, I apply it to the handle as follows: The shank-piece t' is made with a slit or opening, 7i', (seen in Fig. 2, width corresponding to the knife-blade a, and so that said blade can slide freely therein. The end of the ferrule t is also slit down, so that the edge g-h of the blade ct can slip therein, as will be understood from Fig. 1. The rear end, of the shank is provided with a screw-thread, m, upon which tits a nut, n. By tightening,r the nut the blade et is drawn into the ferrule slit and securely fastened in position by the slit of the shank, and by loosening the nut the position of the blade can be adjusted as may be desirable; or the blade may be removed to be sharpened or replaced by another. By causing the shank to lextend g across the blade as sho-wn it sustains the rigidity of the blade and helps to keep it from twisting' when a very thin blade is used.

In the old form of knife, as the blade 1s sharpened and worn away the angle is so i changed that the position of the hand has to be constantly varied to correspond until, when the knife is worn quite narrow, as denoted by the upper red lines, the position of the han'd and wrist is nearly upright, and it is then very tiresome to use the knife; but in niy l knife, as the siarpening is parallel to the.

edge, the same inclination of the blade is maintainedas denoted by the dotted lines in Fig. 1. The old form of knife is so wide and long' and of such irregular width that it is difficult to temper it evenly, and if it twists the temper has to be drawn to straighten it by hammering; but the uniform and narrow width of my knife admits of its being readily constructed with very even 'cutting temperv Assienon To uinsntr' throughout.

The strength of the hand is much better applied in cutting ,with the new lr'nii'e, as the force is so much nearer the cutting-point and the finger does not have 1:0 be carried forward onto the top edge of the blade to force the knife down, or the thumb and finger placed on opposite sides of the blade to keep it from twisting, as has often to be done in using the old knife. By confining the blade by the shank, as described, Iam enabled to employ a, very thin blade, which is quite desirable with this kind of cutting-tool.

I claiin- 1. The improved form' stantially as' shown and d Y 2. The manner of conn handle and allowing it to be adjusted or removed by means of the lsi forth. i

In witness whereof I have hereto set my signature' this 4th dey of Ma Witnesses: A

GEQR-GE EDDY, GEORGE F. FIsKE.

oisted sha-nk, as lset;

rch, A. D. 1864..

s. RICHARD. 

